WLC Volleyball's Mission: "A family of young women who courageously, confidently, and humbly chase excellence by daily choosing love & faithfulness."
FAMILY is what we are most proud to represent with WLC Volleyball. As a team we have created a culture where our players are best friends, coaches are privileged to be mentors and guides, and we all care for and love each other as family. Leaving home and moving away to college might be an emotional moment, but we want to assure you that you're joining an amazing Warriors family!
Being able to call another place “home” has a lot to do with the people with whom you surround yourself. At WLC, we have the best coaches and staff, all of whom take the role of being a mentor very seriously. "Home" is not always the location that you end up at, but the people who are with you. That is why we want to introduce you to the coaches in our program who will be in your life during your time at WLC and our philosophies on coaching and mentoring so you can rest assured you're about to work with the best people possible!
Meet Jenilee
Hi, I'm Jenilee Voss and I have the privilege of serving as Head Volleyball Coach at Wisconsin Lutheran College. I couldn't picture being anywhere else - I love what I do, who I do it with, and the athletes whom I serve!
As you may know, I really value getting to know my athletes on a personal level. But that doesn't need to start Day #1 as a freshman - it can start now!
Here are some notables to get to know me - the one who will be working with you most - a little more:
My WLC Fast Facts:
- I was named an AVCA Thirty under 30 Coach in 2020
- I also serve as Senior Woman Administrator and Compliance Director in the WLC Athletics Department
What I love about what I do:
My family and background:
- I was inducted into my high school (Mt. Pleasant HS, Mt. Pleasant, MI) Hall of Fame in 2022
- Prior to coaching at WLC, I was Business Director & Coach at Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy and coached at Notre Dame Prep HS - helping lead them to a Class B State Championship in 2013
- I studied at Michigan State University, earning my Bachelor's Degree in Marketing & International Business and Master's in Sports Administration
- I was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American and AVCA All-American in 2011; received the Big Ten Medal of Honor; was two-time unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection; and four-time Academic All-Big Ten
"Coaching isn't just about the x's & o's, it's about the jane's & joe's"
We take a very holistic approach to mentoring. Here are just a few of the ways we practice what we preach:
- Mentoring ~ multiple individual meetings during the season and school year; plus an always-open-door. It's my privilege to be here for you.
- Mental Performance & Health ~ we partner with Mary Gonring, LPC, who will have individual and team sports psychology / team check-in meetings with us. That is above and beyond the free counseling that is available to all students in person on campus.
- Adulting 101 ~ we started a series for our student-athletes to learn and practice fun life skills with guest speakers. Some have included self defense, healthy grocery shopping tips, and civic engagement, just to name a few.
- StrengthsQuest ~ we are a StrengthsQuest campus and will intentionally work with a Christian Life Coach, Emily Krill, every year to learn more about every individual's strengths and how it relates to and makes our team 'complete.' This helps us understand ourselves and how we can work together better.
- Nutrition ~ our Sodexo regional dietician, Lucas, will come chat with our team 2-3x/year and will provide the team tailored nutrition guidance and tips when needed. We also keep a Gatorade fridge in our locker room fully stocked with drinks, shakes, bars, and chews.
- Academic Resources ~ "WALI" (Warriors Academic Leadership Initiative) is a student-athlete specific study table to help build and sustain healthy study habits and balance the rigors of academics and athletics.
- Faculty Fellow ~ We specifically partner with Business Professor Van Acker to have intentional support, advice, and assistance from a faculty member who is dedicated to WVB
- Team Devotions ~ campus Pastor Wordell does weekly devotions and bible studies with our team to keep us grounded and strong in the Word and help relate our athletic experiences to our spiritual journeys.
- Community Service ~ we engage in multiple community service opportunities throughout the year as a way to give back, use our athletics as a platform to engage, and to be Christ-like servant leaders.
On the court
I understand everyone has their own motivations for competing at the collegiate level, but I expect that no matter what the skill level or role, everyone’s goal is that they are here to improve, to chase excellence, and to go after all of their endeavors with their whole heart, not being afraid to fail. I will absolutely coach and push my student-athletes to be the best players and teammates they can be on the court. But I also understand that there is a more important “game of life” waiting for them after the final whistle blows, and it is my distinct privilege and honor to ensure all of my student-athletes are prepared for that time. So, I will also coach and mentor my student-athletes throughout their entire collegiate journey to be the best versions of themselves, to be leaders, to be strong, and to ensure they leave WLC with lifelong friends and family.
Meet the staff
While our strengths, weaknesses, and personalities may complement each other well and our staff's accomplishments are impressive; what I love most about our staff is their love for the sport, for our student-athletes, and for our college; and their desire to see our student-athletes succeed on the court but more importantly off it.
Samie Riley
- Assistant Coach at WLC since 2017
- Coached at Milwaukee Sting Volleyball Club for 10+ years at all age levels
- Works at NetLynx (volleyball events company) & VolleyHouse
- Graduated from Cardinal Stritch University with a degree in Sport Management
"I love coaching at WLC because of the opportunities the ladies on our team have. Being able to play the sport they still love and have a great focus on their academics. The opportunities that WLC provides our students to better themselves in their studies and life is unlike anything else around! I also love the team/family atmosphere our players work to create every day for the current WLC volleyball program and future WLC volleyball program."
Alyssa Charron
- Assistant Coach since 2022
- Graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran College in 2021 with a degree in Education
- Teaches 7th and 8th grade history at Acosta Middle School
- Played for the Warriors from 2017-2021; was a 3-year captain and 1-time All-conference middle; helped lead the team to a NACC North Division Tournament Championship in 2021
"I love coaching at WLC because we get to encourage girls not only in their volleyball skills, but also in their faith. It's also been fun giving back to the program that taught me so much about life and how to overcome obstacles."
Katie Winkler
- Assistant Coach at WLC since 2023
- State champion, 3x First Team All-State honoree, garnered 1,000+ kills and 500+ digs at East Troy High School
- Spent the 2021 season at Seton Hall University in the Big East Conference before health concerns ended her playing career early
"I love that I’m surrounded with so many caring, hardworking, and passionate people everyday, and the fact that I get to work in a place that shares my faith and values is a cherry on top. Being in a place that provides an faith-based athletic environment is really special, and being able to combine my faith and love for volleyball is something I’ve never been able to do before. Higher level athletics is all about developing the person, not just the athlete, and being able to have that mindset with the addition of faith is a really cool thing to be a part of."
Support Staff:
Mary Elizabeth Gonring: Licensed Professional Counselor / Sports Psychologist
Mary Gonring is a Licensed Professional Counselor who works with Christian Family Solutions and partners with WLC and our Athletics Department. She has been working with our women's volleyball team since Fall of 2022.
Mary specializes in working with youth, adolescents, and college students who struggle with a variety of issues, including anxiety and depression, communication with peers, self-advocacy, and taking risks. She also specializes in mental performance enhancement work with high school and college athletes.
Mary joined Christian Family Solutions in 2018. She received her BA in Psychology and Biology from Assumption College in Worcester, MA, where she also played 4 years of college volleyball at the DII level. She obtained her Ed.M. in Counseling and Sports Psychology from Boston University. She is Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Wisconsin.
Mary has experience in providing counseling to college and high school athletes who desire to work on performance anxiety, goal-setting, and communication techniques.
Mary Ann Sander: Team Faith Based Yoga Instructor
Mary Ann has been practicing and teaching yoga, meditation and breathwork since 2010. She holds a 500 hour Master certification and is also certified to teach Meditation/Nidra, Trauma Sensitive yoga, Restorative yoga and Somatic Movement. MaryAnn is a Lead Trainer with YogaFaith School in Washington and is currently a part of their Yoga Therapy curriculum development team. She has been working with our women's volleyball team since Spring of 2021.
Locally, Mary Ann teaches classes, class series, workshops as well as does individual coaching and mentoring throughout Southeastern Wisconsin.
Mary Ann has had a heart and passion for teaching and serving her entire life. In addition to being a yoga trainer, she has taught in the fields of public education, hairdressing and theater/dance. She is also a home church leader with Brew City Church in Milwaukee, WI.
Errick Brooks: Team Strength & Conditioning Coach
Errick Brooks is in his second season as a strength and conditioning coach at Wisconsin Lutheran College.
Other Campus Staff Resources available to all students:
- Athletic Trainers & Sports Medicine: Dr. William Raasch, Matt Hendricks, Andre Daniel, Alyssa Gorecki
- Campus Pastors / Campus Ministry: Wayne Shevey, Greg Lyon, Nate Wordell - for pastoral counseling and service opportunities
- Health Services: Jackie Kacmarynski & Melanie Orlando - for mental health and counseling services, physical health, medical services, and more
- Career Development: Thad Jahns & Katy Wick - for major and career exploration, internship assistance, and more
- Student Support Services: Karen Sitz (Director of Student Support and Disability Services) - accommodations are available to students with documented physical disabilities, documented learning disabilities, and students in times of personal or situational crisis
- Academic Support Services: Dr. Allison Philips & team - for tutoring, CliftonStrengths, academic advising, and more
Our staff and our individual and collective philosophies play a crucial role in the success of every practice, match, and season we have - and ultimately our program as a whole! We are all dedicated to helping you grow and mature as a strong young woman and leader during your time at WLC. We look forward to growing our FAMILY together with you!